05-29-2004, 12:56 AM
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this...
At age 11, Anthony Seblano has a fiery fastball that's a blessing and a curse.
The Brooklyn sixth-grader, nicknamed The Rocket, was recently yanked off the mound and banned from pitching against the St. Athanasius Youth League team - all because he's too good.
The 4-foot-9, 80-pound lefty is the ace of the Joe Torre Little League's traveling team. But when the squad traveled to Borough Park to play St. Athanasius last Friday, St. Athanasius officials had the pint-size hurler marched off the mound.
"Most of the time I just throw strikes. I never walk anybody," Anthony said yesterday. "I really don't think this is fair, because my teammates depend on me."
Anthony's mom, Linda Seblano, said she couldn't believe her ears when her son's coach told her about the ban.
"I'm appalled by this," said Seblano, of Marine Park. "We've told our son that if you work hard, good things will happen. Now we have to tell him that all his hard work has gotten him banned."
Anthony can still pitch in the Joe Torre in-house league and for his school, Good Shepherd Elementary School. But he can't pitch in the St. Athanasius league, said Tom Gambino, co-chairman of the St. Athanasius Youth Organization.
"He [Anthony] blows away the competition, so he is what we consider an illegal player," said Gambino.
Gambino noted Anthony has thrown a perfect game and two no-hitters against St. Athanasius players.
"He is an overwhelmingly, powerful pitcher. It's a very unfair advantage," Gambino said.
He said St. Athanasius is a church league that's not affiliated with Little League, and therefore is not bound by its rules.
Gambino said St. Athanasius' rules allow it to ban dominating pitchers from outside teams.
"He can come in here and hit 10 home runs a game. I don't care, as long he he doesn't pitch," Gambino said.
The kid can't play cause he's too GOOD?????? Are you friggin kidding me??? He should be getting scouted by some teams for crying out loud. Nice way to teach a kid a lesson, hey pal, you're too good you can't play no more. You'd think he'd get picked all the time to play.
At age 11, Anthony Seblano has a fiery fastball that's a blessing and a curse.
The Brooklyn sixth-grader, nicknamed The Rocket, was recently yanked off the mound and banned from pitching against the St. Athanasius Youth League team - all because he's too good.
The 4-foot-9, 80-pound lefty is the ace of the Joe Torre Little League's traveling team. But when the squad traveled to Borough Park to play St. Athanasius last Friday, St. Athanasius officials had the pint-size hurler marched off the mound.
"Most of the time I just throw strikes. I never walk anybody," Anthony said yesterday. "I really don't think this is fair, because my teammates depend on me."
Anthony's mom, Linda Seblano, said she couldn't believe her ears when her son's coach told her about the ban.
"I'm appalled by this," said Seblano, of Marine Park. "We've told our son that if you work hard, good things will happen. Now we have to tell him that all his hard work has gotten him banned."
Anthony can still pitch in the Joe Torre in-house league and for his school, Good Shepherd Elementary School. But he can't pitch in the St. Athanasius league, said Tom Gambino, co-chairman of the St. Athanasius Youth Organization.
"He [Anthony] blows away the competition, so he is what we consider an illegal player," said Gambino.
Gambino noted Anthony has thrown a perfect game and two no-hitters against St. Athanasius players.
"He is an overwhelmingly, powerful pitcher. It's a very unfair advantage," Gambino said.
He said St. Athanasius is a church league that's not affiliated with Little League, and therefore is not bound by its rules.
Gambino said St. Athanasius' rules allow it to ban dominating pitchers from outside teams.
"He can come in here and hit 10 home runs a game. I don't care, as long he he doesn't pitch," Gambino said.
The kid can't play cause he's too GOOD?????? Are you friggin kidding me??? He should be getting scouted by some teams for crying out loud. Nice way to teach a kid a lesson, hey pal, you're too good you can't play no more. You'd think he'd get picked all the time to play.
I'm not quite there yet
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Believe the Hype, Bitch!!!!
Believe the Hype, Bitch!!!!